Device for wiping pipe



Jan. 12, 1954 FIG. I.

N. A. NELSON DEVICE FOR WIPING PIPE Filed Sept. 8, 1950 IN V EN TOR.

Norm an A. Nelson,

Patented Jan. 12, 1954 DEVICE FOR WIPING PIPE Norman A. Nelson, Houston,'Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Standard Oil Develop-- mentCompany, Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationSeptember 8, 1950, Serial No. 183,699

16 Claims. (01. 15-210) The present invention is directed to apparatusfor wiping pipe and other cylindrical surfaces.

The present invention embodies a deformable longitudinal member defininga cylindrical surface which is adapted to embrace the periphery of pipeand the like cylindrical surfaces. The deformable longitudinal member isattached at first and second ends to swivels and the swivels on thefirst and second ends of said deformable longitudinal member areadaptedto be attached to swivel supporting means which maintain saidlongitudinal member in operative relationship to:

the periphery of pipe and like cylindrical surfaces when said member iswrapped there-' around.

The supporting means may include a cylindrical housing which may beattached to the casing of a borehole below the rotary table and.-

the blowout preventers. For example, a bellnipple may be modified byattaching thereto swivel supporting means, one of which is preferablyspaced above the second of said supporting means. i V

The present invention will be further described by reference to thedrawing in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view in partial sec-.

tion of apparatus of the presentinvention in operational relationship toa drill pipe; I

Fig. 2 is a detailed showing of the arrangement of the swivel;

Fig. 3 is a detailed view of releasable attaching means for the swivel;

Fig. 4 is a view of another embodiment of my invention illustrating areleasable attaching,

means and a modified longitudinal member and clamp therefor; and

Fig. 5 is a detailed view of the clamping means of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to Figs. 1-3, numeral IIdesignates a drill pipe arranged in a borehole and which is connected toother sections thereof, not shown, by a tool joint I2 of theconventional type. Attached to a well casing, not shown, is a bellnipple I3 embodying a cylindrical housing arranged in spacedrelationship to drill pipe II and tool joint I2, as shown. Thecylindrical housing of bell nipple I3 has attached to it a first swivelsupporting means l4 and a second swivel supporting means I 5. It will benoted that swivel supporting means I4 is spaced slightly above the topof bell nipple I3 and offset therefrom while swivel supporting means I5is spaced above swivel supporting means I4.

A deformable longitudinal member'which is 2 cylindrical in cross-sectionI6 is attached by swivels I! and. I8, respectively, to swivel supportingmean I4 and" I5. The deformable longitudinal member I6 isattached toswivels I! and I8 by clamps I9 which embrace or circumscribe thelongitudinal member I6 and the irregularly shaped members 20 which form'part of swivels I1 and I 8. Thus the deformable longitudinal member I6surrounds or embraces the irregularly shaped member 20 which may beinserted therein and the clamps I9 cause a tight fit to be made withswivels I! and I8.

Referring now to Fig. 2 which shows a detail of the means of attachinglongitudinal member I6 to one of the supporting members, for example,I5; the swivel I8 is arranged in a link 2| which is attached to a pin 22carried by the swivel supporting means I 5.

The swivel supporting means I 4 may be connected to member I6 similarlyto swivel supporting means I 5 but preferably one of the swivelsupporting means is connected to' the longitudinal member [6 byreleasable means, such as shown in Fig. 3. For purposes of illustration,it may be assumed that swivel I1 connected to longitudinal means It isreleasably attached to swivel supporting means I4 by a hook member 23which embraces and surrounds pin 24 of supporting means I 4. Hook 23 isprovided with a spring latch 25 to allow the longitudinal member Hi tobe attached releasably to swivel supporting means I4.

It is to be understood, of course, that both swivels I! and I8 may bereleasably attached to swivel supporting means I4 and I5 as has beendescribed. It is to be understood further that other means for attachingswivels may be suitably employed.

The deformable member It should be constructed to be circular incross-section and should be constructed of a deformable material, suchas natural or synthetic rubber, or the deformable member I6 may suitablybe a resilient metallic cable, circular in cross-section, constructed ofmetallic material, such as used in making metallic watch bands. On theother. hand, the resilient metallic cable may suitably be a metalliccable havinga covering of natural or synthetic however, to have theswivel supporting means I4 and I5 spaced vertically at least thedistance of twice the diameter of the longitudinal mem- 3 her I 6.Furthermore, it is to be understood that the housing l3 in the shape ofa bell nipple forming the mounting for supporting means I4 and 15 may bereplaced by other housing means spaced away from the drill pipe II andthe tool 5 joint l2. The supporting means 14 and I5 may suitably bevertical rods arranged adjacent the drill pipe, II and; tool, joint l2rigidly attached to a supporting member of the derrick or the swivelsupporting means (4 and 15 may be at; 1Q:

"at right angles to the link passing through the tached horizontally tothe derrick substructure.

The apparatus of the present invention as; i1 lustrated by Figs. l-3operates in the following manner:

The longitudinal member- ,15; may have one, end, such as thatcarrying'swivel |8,rigidly at tached to swivel supporting means l5 andthe other end releasably attached., ,.;togswiveL supaporting means [4.With the drill pipe ll in the, borehole, the longitudinal member I6 iswrapped around the drill pipe, as shown in Fig. l, and the swivel. I!attached. by suitable means, such: as. shown in Fig. 3',toiswivelisupportng means i 4:

As the Vpipeis. pulled.-.up( out .01": theholethe deformable member.lfirr'oll's" onithe pipe surface and wipes Vtheimud :offi ithfi. pipesin a wringere type action. The vcharacteristics of the deform-l ablemember. andthe. particular arrangementof; the present, ,inventionrpermitan initial tension to be.applied,to,theewiperitotallow the drilling mudto be WipBd therefrom-l Referring -noW.=. ;to F gs-1A ands, numeral.13-. designates a bell nipple as in Figs. i tor-3 having a swivelsupportin meansfill attached there- Wiv L.suppqrtins means; 3fli c1 desaa k t I ith; race 3 .1;and n lud n fork arrangement; 33 which isalsahracedwith a brace 34. Pork arrangement;33.adsfi s as ot v3 throughwhich the swivel is attached in a man; her to be described; 4O mabl l nitudinal, member, 6.: is rate; diq a swiv -1;Wb ;13; sa rov dedw tliza vs n 3 T W9 3. efine a. h d zfi sh. attached. th etoa, A. c ventionaltype hose-clamp lO-gfits; over the de: formablelongitudinal m m 35 ,jlrte which the;

' h osss azen-ifls stinger: 38 ssrtske a V whichclamps over the deigrma1 longitu mal e r ;fit v ?;;t s;;sh ul. ins .3 tight into between theball be 31 and the,deformablelongitudinal v V v The other'hendiof itlriev eff ble' lonfg itud al member '38" is attached to a similar ballbe g.-SWWBI imto ide swi a s ul over which. clamp llflj 'is inged; swivel llis,

similarly provided with a, bulbous ,nqsenstingen os 38 which isinsertedin,mernben 3B. The swiv 41 i hed ,tolfa been member." m rina asupport '44, bracket means 43 being attached to bell nipple v [3.Upstandingsupporjts, 45 are provided with a pin lli which attaches theswivel so ll to the upstandingm embers 45.

The deformable longitudinal; member 3fi may T be suitably provided witnasecond deformable; member i'l which -may -be-a tubular deform ablememberwhich: fits around the deformable member. 36; for example, when-thedefor-mable member 36 isconstructed 0f rubber,-a rubber; hose. of.largerinside' diameter. may be-fitted over 7 the deformablemex'nbersilfis Thus when the de formable membenfili is -inntension thedeform able member 41.. may; roll .freely'thereon and provide a wipingaction. foiqa pipe coming -out of the borehole when the deformablemembers-f 35 and 41 are 'wrappe' -therearound as illustrated Attached tothe swivel 3! is a link chain 48 which is releasably attached throughslot 35 to fork 33; thus, for example, when it is desirable to use thedevice of the present invention, as embodied in this figure, ondifferent size pipe, it is possible to lengthen or decrease theeffective length of: the appratusgbyi hooking the chain 48 by differentlink s in the slot 35. The manner of attaching the chain A8 in the slot35 is very simple, a link of the chain being turned $1 1; 1 35,; thusefiectively hooking the chain at ins n The' deyice of Figs. 4 and 5operates in a similar mannergto .the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3, theonly ,di er,ence: being that the deformable members 36 and 41 both canrotate freely, exerting awiping actionon the pipe as it comes out of thehole. A further difierenoe is the means of attaching the deformablemeans 36 to the swivel. When it is desired to employ the apparatus ofthe present invention, the longitudinal member ;36 either carrying or'not carrying am additional longitudinal member il may; be wrappedaround a stand of pipe, such as II ,-in; a borehole and the chain 48.clamped 'at the desiredpointin-slot 35. As; the pipe" is pulled; outot-the holea rolling or wringer action-is exerted thereon and the pipeis freedofmud;

The device as illustrated in Figai was used on about: 3000 .'feet-of-5-inch drill-pipe in a borehole in the Gulf Coast of Texas andsatisfactorily removedmudtherefrom.

In .order .7 to illustrate the inventioniurthen a l-inch :diameter.rubbericable was equipped with harness-type swivels on each end.Ropes-were attached. toieach: of. theswivelsand. the rubber cable.wasrtheniwrapped around al5-inch .drill pipebeing pulled out of-aborehole-inan oil wellzbeingdrilled in the Texas Gulf-Coast. A rollingaction not the. rubber cable was efiectedd andlisatisfactory'.wipingofamud from the 13113.61 resulted x The invention described andclaimed herein-- has theifollowing znoteworthyadvantages ;-over pipewipers currently. employeds Theimproved apparatus-provides maximum viewof the bore hole iso that themud level in the; annulus be tween thedrill pipe and thecasing can-beob;

served. The improved apparatus including {the longitudinal member; canbe quickly and simply inserted or removed without, damaging itArrrnadrsntass .ihaither llms a t on o t ii l d m mber. l su s i t-a mse Din ear. ndn 'ih rm r g ar d tion l minimized since theimprovedapparatusisnot; Q iaqtwit s ttomp th r t y bus ns- The eifectivewiping area may also be changed by anchoring the ,freewend, of thelongitudinal member at different. points, and; by: 1 different, mean991, 6; u in t that w h-h se ngs ss j sdua pveu The nature and objects;oi .the present invenm v ticn havingbeen fully described andillustrated, what; desire to claim asnew and. useful and-to secure byLetters Patent ise l. Apparatus for,wipingpipeand other cylin s dricalsuria ces which comprises, in, combinatio a deformable longitudinal;member: defining a a1 suriace adap ted ,.to. .embrace-rotatab e P lmhg'wP ss and e an-, ndrita s rfaces, swivels attached -to ,first and second.ends;; visigmem r"and fi s z a d s l= u porting means for said swivels,said first su r naies nsb ias erased-awe and. ad sta apart from thesecond supporting means, said swivels being movably attached to saidsupporting means, and said supporting means being adapted to maintainsaid member in operative relationship to the periphery of pipe and othercylindrical surfaces when said member is wrapped therearound and toallow only limited vertical movement of said member with respect to saidsupporting means.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the deformable memberis a natural rubber cable.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the deformable memberis a synthetic rubber cable.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the deformable memberis a resilient metallic cable.

5. Apparatus for wiping pipe and other cylindrical surfaces whichcomprises, in combination, a deformable longitudinal member defining acylindrical surface adapted to embrace rotatably the periphery of pipeand other cylindrical surfaces, swivels attached to first and secondends of said member, first and second fixed supporting means for saidswivels said first supporting means being spaced above and a distanceapart from the second supporting means, said swivels being movablyattached to said supporting means and said supporting means beingadapted to .maintain said member in operative relationship to theperiphery of pipe and other cylindrical surfaces when said member iswrapped therearound and to allow only limited vertical movement of saidmember with respect to said supporting means, and releasable means on atleast one of said swivels for releasably attaching said swivel to saidsupporting means.

6. Pipe wiping apparatus comprising, in combination, a housing adaptedto be arranged in fixed relationship to a stand pipe in a borehole, adeformable longitudinal member defining a cylindrical surface adapted toembrace rotatably the periphery of said pipe and having a first and asecond swivel attached, respectively, to first and second ends thereof,first and second swivel supporting means rigidly mounted on saidhousing, said first supporting means being spaced above and a distanceapart from the second supporting means, and attaching means movablyconnecting said swivels to said swivel supporting means to allow onlylimited vertical movement of said member with respect to said housing.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 in which the deformable memberis a natural rubber cable.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 in which the deformable memberis a. synthetic rubber cable.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 in which the deformable memberis a resilient metallic cable.

10. Pipe wiping apparatus comprising, in combination, a housing adaptedto be arranged in fixed relationship to a stand of pipe in a borehole, adeformable longitudinal member defining a cylindrical surface adapted toembrace rotatably the periphery of said pipe and having a first and asecond swivel attached to a first and a second end of said member, firstand second swivel supporting means rigidly mounted on said housing, saidfirst swivel sup porting means being spaced above said second swivelsupporting means a distance at least equivalent to twice the diameter ofsaid longitudinal in cross section adapted to embrace the periphery ofsaid pipe and rotate thereon, a first and a second swivel attached,respectively, to first and second ends of said cable, first and secondswivel supporting means rigidly mounted on said housing, said firstswivel supporting means being spaced above said second swivel supportingmeans a distance at least equivalent to twice the diameter of saidrubber cable and also spaced a dis- -tance apart from said second swivelsupporting means, and attaching members movably connecting said swivelsto said swivel supporting means to allow only limited vertical movementof said member with respect to said housing.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 in which at least one of saidattaching members ,releasably connects one of said swivels to one ofsaid swivel supporting means.

13. Pipe wiping apparatus comprising, in combination, a housing adaptedto be arranged in fixed relationship to a stand of pipe in a bore- :holeand adapted to be attached to a well casing arranged therein, a firstdeformable longitudinal member cylindrical in cross section adapted toembrace the periphery of said pipe and to rotate thereon, a first and asecond swivel attached, respectively, to first and second ends of saidfirst member, first and second swivel supporting means, the first swivelsupporting means being spaced above and a distance apart from the secondswivel supporting means and rigidly mounted on said housing, a seconddeformable longitudinal member cylindrical in cross section embrac ingrotatably said first member, first attaching means movably connectingsaid first swivel to said first supporting means and second attachingmeans movably connecting said second swivel to said second supportingmeans, said attaching means allowing only limited vertical movement ofsaid members with respect to said housing and said swivels allowing saidmembers to rotate when said second member is in contact with said pipe.

14. Apparatus in accordance with claim 13 in References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 428,799 BreulMay 27, 1890 478,824 Shostak July 12, 1892 2,014,293 Riley Sept. 10,1935 2,892,490 Maruri Jan. 8, 1946 2,480,371 Kalhoefer Aug. 30, 1949

